Container



July 6, 1965 K. CRABTREE 3,193,177

CONTAINER Filed June 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 6, 1965 K. CRABTREE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1965 INVENTOR Kamaihl. Crwbiree July 6, 1965 K. L. CRABTREE 77 CONTAINER Filed June 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Maine Filed June 5, 1963, Ser. No. 285,754 6 Claims. (Cl. 229 l i) The present invention relates to a novel container and is more specifically directed to improved means for interlocking engagement between the container and its associated cover.

More particularly the present container is of the type having an inwardly extending indentation in at least one wall thereof for the purpose of forming reinforcing structure and/ or cellular division therein. The interloclo ing means between the cover and the container of the present invention utilizes such an indentation to obtain a quick opening, positive interlock.

The interlocking means of the present invention includes an inwardly extending and upwardly tapering indentation in at least one wall of the container, tab receiving and retaining means formed on opposite sides of the indentation at a level between the top and bottom thereof and a tab extension on the cover member arranged for alignment with the indentation. The tab extension comprises a reduced neck portion terminating in an enlarged portion having laterally extending ears on either side thereof. These ears are arranged for interlocking engagement with the receiving and retaining means in such a fashion that the enlarged portion of the tab extension bridges across the indentation and provides room for opening by fingertip insertion behind the end of the tab extension.

With reference to the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of an embodiment of the present invention, the cover being removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of FIG. 1 including said cover means;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 3-3: of P16. 1 but including the cover means of FIG. 2 in partially open position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 2 also illustrating the cover means in partially open position.

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 4A-4A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 3 with the cover in locked position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the cover in locked position;

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 6A 6A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to PEG. 3 of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the embodiment of FIG. 7 but illustrating a portion thereof in cross-section and omitting cover means for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 9 is a View similar to FIG. 5 of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the base portion of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of FIG. 11;

FIG, 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but including cover means in interlocked position; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 14-]l4 of FIG. 13.

With reference to the first embodiment as shown by FIGS. 1-6A inclusive, the container thereof comprises side walls 1., end walls 3 and a bottom wall generally "Ice indicated by reference numeral 5. Since this form of container is preferably used for packaging eggs, the height of these walls may extend to a height at least equal to that of eggs packaged in upright position within the same.

The container of PEG. 1 is preferably formed of a material which is capable of being molded as a single unit. Although molded pulp is preferred, other materials such as light, strong plastic may be used to form a satisfactory container.

The cover member 7 of the present embodiment is preferably of plastic, chipboard or cardboard and may contain one or more window openings therein for the purpose of viewing container contents. As shown in FIG. 3, cover member '7 is fastened by flange extension 9 to one side wall 1 by the use of glue, staples, or other suitable attaching means to provide .a hinge arrangement at 13. However, and as will be appreciated from the following description, other hinged cover arrangements may be employed or the cover member may be removable from the container as a separate unit. In the case of a removable cover, it may be fastened to the container on opposed sides by the same interlocking means discussed hereinafter.

With continuing reference to the first embodiment of the present invention, cellrdar structure is included therein and comprises a series of full posts 13 and half-posts 15. As shown, full posts 13 extend to substantially the same height as the side and end walls 1 and 3. How ever, these may be of substantially reduced height and are preferably so if the packaged article is of such a shape that this will facilitate article removal. As shown, half-posts 15 also extend to the height of the side and end walls 1 and 3. lowever, such full height arrangement is primarily for reinforcing purposes since it rigidities side and end wall structure and also provides addit onal support means for the cover 7. If such is not required, half-posts may be of a lesser height or may, in fact, merely consist of appropriately shaped upwardly tapering and inwardly extending indentations which need not originate from the bottom 5 of the container.

in addition to the support and cellular structure provided by posts 13 and 15, raised connecting ribs 17 serve to connect full posts 13 to each other and to adjacent half-posts 15. lb structure 17 may be of any of a variety of styles.

With continued reference to the first embodiment of the present invention, cover member '7 includes at least one tab extension generally indicated at It? which has a reduced neck portion 21 terminating in an enlarged portion having laterally extending ears As shown, tab extension l9 extends from flange 25 which is hinged to cover 7 at 27. However, it will be appreciated that element 19 may extend directly from the top panel of cover member '7. Furthermore, hinge lines 11 and 27 may take the form of perforations which not only permit hinging action but also permit cover separation by tearing, if desired.

One or more tab extensions 19 may be employed for the purpose of the interlocking means of the present invention. As shown, five such tab extensions are employed, each tab extension being arranged for alignment with a half-post 15 or an equivalent indentation positioned in the adjacent container side.

With further reference to half-posts l5, inwardly turned shoulder formations 2% are formed on opposite sides thereof and peferably at a level which will permit the ears 23 of tab 19 to react against the same in interlocked position. This arrangement is clearly shown in FIG. 6 at 31. The referred to reaction between shoulder formations 29 and ears 23 provides tension along the length of tab 19 which positively seats top panel 7 against the upper margins of side walls 1 and the adjacent half-post supporting structure.

Each tab receiving and retaining means of the present embodiment comprises two projections 31 of the wall the underside of shoulder formation 29.

FIG. 4A illustrates extensions 31 and the shelf-like cooperating undersurfaces 33 of said shoulder formations.

It will be noted that a conventional wire screen covered die may be used for forming shoulders 29 and projections 31 and that the die may then readily be withdrawn from the molded article by virtue of the indented, upwardly tapering arrangement of half-posts 15;

With particular reference to FIG; 6A, tab 19 is shown ,in phantom in a position just prior to being depressed inwardly into interlocking engagement with the receiving and retaining means formed by projections 31.

passage of the tab 19 into interlocked position behind projections 31. r The natural resiliency of the material of tab 19 causes the bowed ears 23 to snap back into extended position and bridge across the indentation. As

lel rows and columns of posts extend upwardly from the base 43 and include half-posts 45 and full posts 47. Conventional rib structure 49 interconnects posts 47 to each other and to half-posts 45. In lieu of such conventional rib structure, that illustratedin my above-referred to copending application may be utilized. A top a .side opposite thehinged side thereof includes shoulder 20, p v extension 61 includes a reduced neck portion 63 terminat- By continued gentle pressure at the center of tab 19, the cars 23 thereof bow toward one another and permit -a consequence, and as shown by FIG. 5, thereis room for finger-tip insertion behind the end of tab 19 to permit a reverse bowingelfect on the application of outward pressure to unlock the container. Chipboard or other pulp material from which tab 19 is manufactured generally possesses adequate resiliency for opening and closing the container several times. If the container is of the disposable type, such as an egg carton, such natural resiliency will sufficefor the several required opening and closing operations. However, if it is desired to provide for more repeated opening and closing operations, then tabs .19 may be coated with a suitable plastic material which will enhance their resiliency life and permit continued opening. and closing. j

The embodiment of FIGS. 7-10 represents a modification of the previously described embodiment, like reference numerals indicating identical elements. In lieu of the tab receiving and retaining means 31 of the previous embodiment, this embodiment employs two slot formations '33 extending through the wall of half-post 15 on either side thereof as well as elongated tab cars 35 which are adapted, in the interlocked arrangement, to extend at least partially through slots 33. Opening and closing of this embodiment is accomplished in identical manner area for reaction against the. ears 35 of the tab in interlocked position.

The third embodiment of the present invention, as shown by FIGS. 11-14, is directed to a more conventional form of container than illustrated by the first two embodiments. However, and except for differences in the actual container and cover construction, the interlocking means thereof is substantially identical with that of the first" invention embodiment. v I

With further reference to the third embodiment, the container thereof comprises an egg carton similar to wellknown commercial cartons. The base portion, generally 7 indicated by 37, includes side and end walls 39 and 41' connected to each other and to a bottom wall 43. Paralstructure and tab receiving andretaining means like that of the first invention embodiment, like numerals being used to designate like structure. Tab extension element e1 extends from marginal flange 57' around marginal flange 59 in a positionin alignment with this half-post. As in the .case ofthe invention of embodiment 1, tab

ing in'an enlarged portion having laterally extending ears 65. Preferably, the relative vertical positioning of shoulder formation 29 and ears 65 are such that the ears react againstthe shoulders ininterlocked position, such reaction points occurring at 67 in FIG. 13.

The locking and unlocking of the third embodiment of v the present invention is accomplished in the same manner described above in connection with the first embodiment. If desired, slot formations as used in the second embodiment may also be employed in the third embodiment with an appropriate shaping of ears 65 so that they at least extend partially .through the slots in interlocked position. V

The foregoing description of the present invention is for the purpose of illustration only and is not limiting to the scope thereof which isv set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. A container comprising side walls connected to a bottom member, an inwardly extending, tab receiving indentation integrally contoured in at least one side wall of the container, The indentation being formed by a portion of the sidewall being directed first inwardly and then outwardly to form a depression of sufiicient depth to permit fingertip access therein, tab retaining meansformed onopposite sides of the indentation at a level between the top and bottom thereof, and a-cover member for the container including. a tab arranged for alignment with the indentation, the tab comprising a reduced neck porwhich the front sides of the ears are positioned when the tab is interlockingly engaged with the retaining means.

3. The container. of claim 2 wherein the cover retaining surfaces are formed by inwardly turned shoulder formations on opposite sides of the indentation.

4. The container of claim 2 wherein the tab retaining surfaces are formed by opposed projections of theside wall 'of the container which partially overlie the'indentation. a 5 The container'of claim 2 wherein the tab retaining means includes slot formations the upper portionsof which provide the cover retaining surfaces and side portions of which provideithe tab retaining surfaces.

6. A container comprising a bottom formed of a sheet of molded pulp contoured to define a plurality of downwardly dished article receiving pockets wherein adjacent pockets on the edge of the bottom are defined in part by upwardly tapering indentations taking the shape of hollow half-posts, a cover adapted to overlie the bottom to close the container, and interlocking means for securing the cover to the bottom, the interlocking means including a tab comprising an enlarged portion, laterally extending ears on either side of the enlarged portion and a reduced neck portion connecting the enlarged portion to the cover, and the interlocking means also including tab retaining means formed on opposite sides of the indentation comprising cover retaining surfaces at a level intermediate the top and bottom of the indentation against which the upper edges of the ears may abut, and tab retaining surfaces below the cover retaining surface behind which the front sides of the ears may be positioned, the width of the indentation at a level above the tab retaining means being at least as great as the width of the reduced neck portion, the Width of the indentation at the level of the tab retaining means being sufiicient to permit bridging of the enlarged portion across the indentation, and the Width and depth of the indentation at and below the level of the tab retaining means being sufiicient for fingertip insertion beneath the enlarged portion of the cover tab bridging across the bottom indentation for release of the interlocking means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,863 12/44 Cantor 22945 2,587,909 3/52 Sherman 229-45 X 2,619,276 11/52 Gibbons.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,193,177 "July 6, 1965 Kenneth L. Crabtree It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 68, for "peferably" read preferably column 4, line 43, for "The" read the column 5, line 14, for "surface" read surfaces Signed and sealed this 21st day of December 1965.

( L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD]. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING SIDE WALLS CONNECTED TO A BOTTOM MEMBER, AN INWARDLY EXTENDING TAB RECEIVING INDENTATION INTEGRALLY CONTOURED IN AT LEAST ONE SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER, THE INDENTATION BEING FORMED BY A PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL BEING DIRECTED FIRST INWARDLY AND THEN OUTWARDLY TO FORM A DEPRESSION OF SUFFICIENT DEPTH TO PERMIT FINGERTIP ACCESS THEREIN, TAB RETAINING MEANS FORMED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE INDENTATION AT A LEVEL BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF, AND A COVER MEMBER FOR THE CONTAINER INCLUDING A TAB ARRANGED FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE INDENTATION, THE TAB COMPRISING A REDUCED NECK PORTION TERMINATING IN AN ENLARGED PORTION HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING EARS ON EITHER SIDE THEREOF, THE TAB BEING ARRANGED TO INTERLOCKINGLY ENGAGE WITH THE RETAINING MEANS WITH THE ENLARGED PORTION BRIDGING ACROSS THE INDENTATION TO PROVIDE ROOM FOR FINGERTIP INSERTION IN THE INDENTATION BEHIND THE ENLARGED PORTION. 